The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-05-07
BrOadbTimS New YORK Letter.

Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE.
What with Legislative investigations and
Republican trbulations the week just past
has not been uninteresting. A political |
power in the Sixteenth Assembly District
was Captain Michael Cregan, otherwise
known among his familiars by the endear-
ing name of Mike. Mike had following
which made his name terror to aspiring
politicians, and woe to the unlucky seeker
after office who neglected about election
times to SEE Mike with fair Doodle. |
Time and again there have been rebellious
subjects in his bailwick, but every time
Mike mustered his cohosts and whipped
them into submission. What he did not
know about ballet boxes, pastors and prim-
aries was net werth knowing, and in all
of his fights he professed to represent legit-
innate succession and regular organization.
New York is Democratic city, OF that
there can be no doubt; but one thing was
morally certain, no matter who was de-
feated, Mike Cregan invariably came out
on top. The Republican party was whipped
out of its boots, but that made no differ.
ence to Captain Mike. When the party
was knocked out Mike always came up
smiling, and when the smoke of the con-
flict cleared away he was generally to be
, found in some comfortable office, where
there was much to get and little to do, and
, not cniy did Providence reward his faith
full service, but his devoted followers were
not forgotten by his victorious enemies, land
J it was generally understood throughout the
I Sixteenth Assembly District that Captain
\ Mikes lines had fallen in pleasant places
q There are many nice little bilets here that
5 the general public wot not Of, but the faith
I full workers that man the polls on election
e day know the value of every place to dol
lar and when the polls close they are on
hand to claim their reward. Captain Mike
had a friend by the name of Bigin, Barney
II Riglin at your service. For several years
/ Mr.. Biglin had charge of the baggage of
r every immigrant that set his brogans upon
u this glorious land of freedom at Castle
&c Garden, and by hook or by crook, most
e generally by crook, MI. Biglin managed tc
e squeeze about forty thousand dollars pei
'e annum out of our foreign brothers. But tc
Us return to Captain Nike Last fall there
Is was an election to fill the place of Mr.
Hewitt who had been elected Mayor o
New York. The district was natural,
E Republican, but somehow or someway
Democrat maraged to slip in. Mr.. Hewitt
;, case was peculiar; he was man of wealth
J., large employer, and the son-in-aw of on
=, of the foremost philanthropists of the age
Tammany had the call and General Franl
:, Spinola, he of the Jumbo shirt collar, 60
the nomination. The Generals Linde
49, 49, Murray might not pass muster at Harvar
:. or Yale, but he is sound on general polite
~ and of his Democracy there could be n
question.
.. The General does not belong to the XII
glove brigade, he believes in his friend
= and sticks to them. When a powerful con
- bination inside the party downed job
Kelly, and made the name of Tammany
- reproach, Frank Spinola stood 10y the OIL
Ship, and said if she was to go down, he
- be - blessed if he wouldn't go down wit
r,o her. To oppose the redoubtable Tamman
"a braye-the Republicans selected Nj
,n Thorndyke Rice. the editor of the Mort
49, american Reuielc, who had just come froi
~. England smarting under a rebuff from OF
~ minister, Mr.. Phelps, in England; who r.
a. fused to receive or present him at Cour
-, There was pretty wide gap between Il
-, two candidates-one representing the vel
49, elite Of our on1 nur litsrotnr
ia and the other the very toughest of roug
. ,, Democracy. There was a natural aflini
between Mike Cregan and General Spinol
There was nothing in common betwet
lTE him and Mr.. Thorndyke Rice, except NJ
la Thorndyke Rice's cash. Mike got as muc
nty OF this as Mr. Rice was willing TO part wit
and then it is said made overtures to Il
Democratic candidate. Whether he did
.tes whether he did not is Misunderstanding l
ers suit being the same. Mr.. Rice, notwit
our standing liberal outlay of patriotism, /
leir tellectual culture and cash, was elected
less stay at home, and his hated rival the Tai
the many Sachem is warming a Congressman
'rth seat in Washington.
Then came settling day, and Mike "
hauled up before the County Committ'
1t was proven on the trial that he had ia
g of en- MIR. Rice's money. 1t was also prov
per- that the Democratic ballots were peddl
tion out of the Republican booths, under {
city charge of Mike Cregan; he was convict,
not but when the question came as to givi
rim him the grand bounce, no fellow could
be- found TO bell the cat. Then the rival fl
red tions squared themselves for the primari
,ols. and after one of the most desperate pol
terry cal struggles on record, my bold Mike W
c in by half neck; going down all in he
lie is rs he passed under the string, Nh. Greg
astic fell down in fit at the close of the iig
and and for few moments il looked as if
evil was about to become a subject for a cor
re in er's inquest but with his usual good II
have be pulled through; and now, we may l.
S all for another investigation, to find out h
rded and where he got the nineteen votes 4
f his saved him. That a man like Mike Gre!
At he should be allowed for an instant to rel
lools sent officially a great political party
leyer disgrace and a humiliation, shocking in
hing treachery and scandalous in its charac
other Better, far better, that the party should
ds of DESTROYED root and branch. and utterly
initiated than that il should owe any
tion of its success to such base and tru
'o"e' ling politicians.
Trouble all along the labor llnes-strl
Con. east, west, north and south, and dis:
sions in the camps of the Knights of Lal
The strike at Higgins carpet factory
Haz- ordered by Assembly 40, and forbidden
F., are one Of the local lodges; some of the /
their went cut, others refused to 90, and tn
Ie of upon was open war Hanan, the g